Showing posts with label autobiography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autobiography. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Aayesha Ejaz

 by Mike Rhode

This year's DC Zinefest at the MLK Library had a handful of cartoonists tabling. One of them is Aayesha Ejaz, new to the DMV area. Her self-titled graphic autobiography is about growing up in India in an observant Muslim family, not fitting in, and succumbing to depression before overcoming it and moving to America. I recommend it highly, as well as her food-focused zines.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I mostly draw autobiographical comics to make things digestible and comforting for myself, and
the viewer. I share mundane things (for instance, how to make a makeshift pizza as a broke
college student!) in an endearing manner with humility and humor.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?


I work traditionally—I use a mechanical pencil for sketching, and then move to pens for inking. I  generally use a Pentel Fude Touch Sign pen for outlines, Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip pen for lettering and a Pentel brush pen for filling in. I prefer to color digitally on Procreate. Then I move to Photoshop for editing and InDesign for layouting.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in 1998 in New Delhi, India.

Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I recently moved for work from St. Louis to Fredericksburg—one small city to another!

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

This is a long story! I did my undergrad from the Indian Institute of Art and Design in Communication  Design—a mix of graphic design, UI/UX, animation, etc. The program allowed me to test my waters. Towards the end of my undergrad, I realized that the projects that I enjoyed the most involved illustration and storytelling.

During my final semester, my brother shared with me about a comic making workshop with Gabrielle Bell. The online workshop helped me learn the A-Z of comics—terms like “emanata” and “pacing” and allowed me to create characters even if they were just stick figures. I was amazed by how much one panel could encapsulate and how relatable everyone's personal narratives were.

I would often struggle with translating thumbnails onto a bigger page for a picture book, but with panels, things didn’t seem that intimidating. So after the workshop, I decided to enroll myself in grad school for illustration. I was admitted into the MFA Illustration and Visual Culture program at Washington University in St. Louis. The program focused on both writing and creating, whether it was comics, picture books, editorial illustrations or infographics.

Who are your influences?

I devoured the entire Captain Underpants series as a kid which validated my quirky sense of humor. I love Lucy Knisley, Malaka Gharib, and Liz Prince—I enjoy the humanized nature of their style and the infographics in their storytelling always makes things more interesting. I’m always in awe of Raina Telgemier’s books as well. Her work is the warm hug my younger self needed :)

What work are you best-known for?

My Makeshift Pizza comic/infographic! All thanks to Dan Zettwoch’s mentorship, and my grad school cohort for trying the recipe the weekend after the class critique.

What work are you most proud of?

The graphic memoir that I wrote and illustrated for my MFA thesis. Never thought I’d be able to share my thoughts and feelings with brevity (in a long-form comic book).

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I definitely see myself illustrating more stories. I’d also like to explore surface design more—making prints, products and patterns with animals and faces to give my sketchbook doodles a home.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I keep trying—I keep writing, drawing or looking at similar stuff that already exists. I also share whatever I have with a friend or family member. Going for a walk and changing my environment also helps.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Awesome Con, or others? Any
comments about attending them?

Coming from Missouri, I’ve tabled at KC Zine Con, Cherokee Print Bazaar, SLICE and DC Zinefest. Tabling definitely gives one an idea about what sells, but the crowd has been different in all these places… I’m generally quite quiet at these events, but I’ve recently started interacting
with whoever stops by my table. 


What comic books do you read regularly or recommend? Do you have a local store?

I used to get my comics from Betty's Books (The best comic bookstore I’ve been to in the US so far) or the St. Louis Public Library. The summer of 2023 was my comics summer. Here are some of my favorites:  Blancaflor, The Hero with Secret Powers: A Folktale from Latin America by Nadja Spiegelman and Sergio García Sánchez; Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas; Snapdragon by Kat Leyh; In Limbo by Deb JJ Lee; Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed; Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka; and Iranian Love Stories by Jane Deuxard.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

I’ve been here many times to visit my brother. I’ve always liked DC for its public transit, cleanliness and museums. And all the ice cream parlors, especially Pitango!

El Burro Loco from At The Edge of My Comfort Zone

 

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Pupatella!

Do you have a website or blog?

Yes! It’s www.eyeshacreates.com

How has the COVID-19 outbreak affected you, personally and professionally?

I think COVID-19 strengthened my belief in drawing as a career option and creating for the greater good of humanity.

Saturday, April 08, 2023

April 23: Jarrett Krosoczka - Sunshine: A Graphic Novel - A Live Reading at Arena Stage in partnership with DCPL and Arena Stage

Jarrett Krosoczka - Sunshine: A Graphic Novel - A Live Reading at Arena Stage in partnership with DCPL and Arena Stage

Sunday, April 23, 7:00 pm
Sunshine: A Graphic Novel By Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Illustrator) Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9781338356311
Availability: Coming Soon—Pre-Order Now
Published: Graphix - April 18th, 2023

Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel By Jarrett J. Krosoczka Cover Image
$14.99
ISBN: 9780545902489
Availability: In Stock—Click for Locations
Published: Graphix - October 9th, 2018

Click here to register. This is a free and open to the public event, however, registration is required. There will be limited walk- in registration if not at capacity.

Politics and Prose is delighted to partner with DC Public Library and Arena Stage for SUNSHINE: Live & Unabridged. Join National Book Award finalist Jarrett J. Krosoczka at Washington, D.C.'s historic Arena Stage for a live, unabridged reading brought to life via a multimedia presentation coupled with local performers. Part literary event, part experimental theater—this will be a truly remarkable evening!

Complimentary copies of SUNSHINE will be available courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation. Copies are available on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last at the event only. Books will be pre-signed by the author. Books will not be available for pickup before or after the event on April 23rd.

This program is presented in conjunction with D.C. Public Library's Know Your Power contest, sponsored by Pepco. Teens are invited to submit an original work of writing, photography, illustration, or music that expresses their feelings on a social issue that matters to them. Click here for more information about Know Your Power.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is a pioneer of the regional theater movement, and where multiple Broadway hits, including Dear Evan Hansen, Sweat, Next to Normal, and The Great White Hope, first premiered. Since 2005, Camp Arena Stage has nurtured artistic growth in young people aged 8-15, who discover their inner artists through dance, drama, writing, movie making, and more. Click here for more information on the 2023 Camp Arena Stage programs, which begin June 26.

About the Book:

The extraordinary—and extraordinarily powerful—follow-up to Hey, Kiddo.

When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of a program that sent students to be counselors at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. Going into it, Jarrett was worried: Wouldn't it be depressing to be around kids facing such a serious struggle? Wouldn't it be grim?

But instead of the shadow of death, Jarrett found something else at Camp Sunshine: the hope and determination that gets people through the most troubled of times. Not only was he subject to some of the usual rituals that come with being a camp counselor (wilderness challenges, spooky campfire stories, an extremely stinky mascot costume), but he also got a chance to meet some extraordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances. He learned about the captivity of illness, for sure but he also learned about the freedom a safe space can bring.

Now, in his follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo, Jarrett brings readers back to Camp Sunshine, so we can meet the campers and fellow counselors who changed the course of his life.

About the Author:

Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, including his wildly popular Lunch Lady graphic novels, select volumes of the Star Wars™: Jedi Academy series, and Hey, Kiddo, which was a National Book Award Finalist. Krosoczka creates books with humor, heart, and deep respect for his young readers—qualities that have made his titles perennial favorites on the bookshelves of homes, libraries, and bookstores over the past twenty years.

Ages 13+

The Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage
1101 6th Street Southwest
WashingtonDC 20024

Thursday, February 02, 2023

Meet a Former D.C. cartoonist - A Chat with Chad Bilyeu of Amsterdam

by Mike Rhode

Recently I heard from Chad Bilyeu, a DC-expat, who wrote, "I am a 47 year-old Black American writer, historian, and photographer who has been living in Amsterdam for nearly 13 years. I am also a former DC denizen and currently write and publish my own comics." Chad was interested promoting his books via our usual interview questions. I've interspersed some of his original email describing his work to me with his answers, and I think readers will enjoy his atypical career.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?


For the most part, I am a writer. On occasion I draw, but I do so little actual drawing that I don’t claim that I do that. I also do a lot of unacknowledged things like lettering, editing, designing, flattening, and what I like to think of as refining. I’m also running my own publishing house, so I do the marketing, liaising, and distribution as well. I guess I do everything [for my comics] except for the penciling and inking. 


How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?


I am into writing full scripts that always begin with pen and paper. I’m a bit old school in that fashion. I begin typing once I’ve handwritten out an outline and the dialogue. Then I go in and embellish the dialogue while adding in explicit direction and notes for the artist. I usually have a vision when I’m writing, so I do suggest panel layout and shot selection with the understanding that if the artist can suggest something better or more logical we will go with that. I aim to provide an artist with a lot of information that helps in keeping their vision firmly rooted in what I’m looking for. I think this process sounds way more commandeering than it actually is. I’ve been told by the artists that I’m pretty easy to work with. Hopefully they aren’t lying to me.


When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?


No shame in my game; I was born in 1975. I feel fortunate to have made it to 47 years of age. I enjoyed growing up in the 1980s. The exposure to Hip-Hop and the advances in technology (especially video games) made it an exciting time for us. I was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, most raised in Cleveland Heights, and spent a lot of time, usually summers and holidays, on Long Island, New York where both of my parents were born. 

 

Why are you in Amsterdam now? 


Yeah, I usually ask myself this question everyday. When I was living in DC (1998-2008) I visited Amsterdam on five separate occasions. During those visits I developed a cursory appreciation for the city. I moved to Amsterdam in 2009 to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Amsterdam which I did not complete. Many jobs and many lives later, I’m still here.  

 

Why did you visit Amsterdam originally? 

 

I first visited Amsterdam for the most superficial and obvious of reasons, I wanted to smoke weed. When I first visited in 2000, the herb was illegal in DC. So, myself and my girlfriend at the time went over for about a week (which is not enough time for a vacation). I was amazed by the coffee shops. I had a lovely time smoking without fear but I also learned that Amsterdam is a really nice city with way more than just weed to offer.
 

What is your training and/or education in writing and cartooning?


I am not really formally trained to write comics. I basically decided in 2018 that I was going to try my hand at it and just went for it. I have been writing regularly since the age of 15 or so. I would draw my own comics which I mostly kept to myself. Around the age of 18, I got into the art of Hip-Hop MCing, which taught me a lot regarding the cadence and rhythm of writing. Rhyming over beats was also the perfect way to expand my lexicon; I would do my best to try and fit words like “sui generis” and “al fresco” into my verses. After that I had a short stint as a restaurant reviewer for the DC City Paper. I then began to write about my misadventures on a blog that was mostly read by my friends. I suppose it was the medium of comics that really presented the opportunity and format that rewarded me the most. 


I used to be known in school for drawing. but I mostly gave up drawing when I moved to DC at the age of 23. I suppose I was more into making music at the time. I have always been an advocate of multimedia artistic expression, be it drawing, music, or analog photography. I don’t draw much anymore, but I don’t think that I have lost the talent. I’m really out of practice and it takes much longer than it used to to draw anything. Maybe I’ll get back into it. Who knows? At the moment though, I am really enjoying writing, so that will be my focus for the foreseeable future.


Who are your influences?


I could go on for hours regarding my influences, so I will do my best to speak on the folks who are inspiring me the most currently. I love great comic art, but have always especially admired a well-crafted story. An incomplete list of writers who have influenced me include Chester Himes, Raymond Chandler, Donald Goines, Richard Stark, Iceberg Slim, George Orwell, Octavia Butler, Matt Wagner, Alan Moore, Peter Milligan, Ed Brubaker, Aleš Kot, Harvey Pekar, Dennis Eichhorn, Grant Morrison, Kazuo Koike, Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Katsuhiro Otomo. Regarding comic art, as of late I have really been feeling Darwyn Cooke, José Muñoz, Eddie Campbell, Kyle Baker, Greg Smallwood, Linnea Sterte, Ryoichi Ikegami, Bill Sienkiewicz, Chris Visions, and Jacques Tardi. Some of these folks have inspired me for decades whilst others I am just getting into. 


If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?


To change anything in my past would result in an intrinsic change in who I currently am. At the moment I am happy with who I am and the work that I am producing, so I don’t feel the need to change anything about my past. Sure, I could have begun my writing career earlier than the age of 42, but I’m not certain that I would have had anything worthwhile to write about. It seemed necessary for my own path to live my life and then write about it later on. I’m satisfied with how everything is coming to fruition. Things happen when they should.


What work are you best-known for?


My best known work is probably my autobiographical series Chad in Amsterdam, which is about my life as an American living in the capital of the Netherlands. I didn’t really think that the comic would succeed but it seems that folks like my take on the city and the culture. So far, it seems to be working so I’ll keep at it for at least six more issues (a total of twelve in the series). I write everything and collaborate with artists from around the world to bring the scripts to life. All of the artists that I work with are paid a fair wage for their artwork and the comic is printed in the Netherlands. I actively promote and distribute my comics around the world. In three and a half years, I have created six issues of Chad in Amsterdam and one issue of a new comic anthology entitled Megillah, which gives a curated selection of artists eight pages to create a story. I’ve amassed a small but dedicated following and received some good reviews. I recently won a grant competition from the good people at 100% Comics to assist with the creation of my sixth issue of Chad in Amsterdam. And lastly, an achievement for which I am quite honored, Chad in Amsterdam was nominated by Broken Frontier for the "best periodical series" for the year 2021.

 

Bernie Mireault? How did you begin working with him?


Honestly, I just hit him up on Facebook. He had been on hiatus because he was taking care of his father. I was rereading Grendel at the time and wondered what he was up to. I sent over a script and my page rate, and he agreed to work with me! There's a pro tip for people; most comic folks are pretty accessible. I've worked with Bernie twice since our first collaboration. He's a consummate professional and I'm honored that he would work with an upstart such as myself.

 

 

What work are you most proud of?


Personally, I am really enjoying creating The Re-Up with my friend and artist Juliette de Wit. The Re-Up is the true story of how I sold drugs from 2004 to 2008 in Washington DC, beginning at Georgetown University and later expanding throughout the East Coast of America. Each issue of The Re-Up is 24 pages fully illustrated in black and white and green. I think that it is an autobiographical comic like no other. In short, the comic is about a part of my decade spent in DC, when I attended and worked at Georgetown University whilst concurrently selling a lot of weed. Thus far we have produced two issues and I am quite proud of them. The comic looks like nothing else on the stands and we put in a lot of work to make sure it is an idiosyncratic artifact. We are releasing chapters en route to an entire graphic novel. The story is just beginning, but most folks seem to be looking forward to each subsequent issue, which is both an honor and a challenge.

 

What would you like to do or work on in the future?


Comics are my favorite medium, so I will continue to create more works within the various genres in the medium. I have a really good superhero story that I would like to tell one day. I would also like to delve into a biography concerning a civil rights leader who I will leave unnamed. I think that after Chad in Amsterdam and The Re-Up reach their conclusions I will probably cease doing autobiographical comics and focus upon fictional stories. I get bored doing the same thing and I am not looking to get typecast. One day I could see myself delving into film and television writing and direction. That would actually be a dream come true. However, I have a feeling that I will continue to create comics for as long as I can.


What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?


Writer’s block doesn’t really exist to me. I have too many ideas and not enough time to realize them all. I don’t believe that a writer has to be writing at all times. We have to get out into the world and enjoy life in order to be inspired and have something interesting to write about. Whenever I am not in the mood to write, I go into the world to converse with folks. I think creativity stems from human interaction, so I maintain a healthy balance of creation when in solitude and fraternization amongst people who I like and respect.


What do you think will be the future of your field?


Good question. Hopefully the masses will still enjoy books written by actual people in the near future. The rise of artificial intelligence and virtual reality are quite frightening to me. It seems that the social scientists have a vested interest in us all being distracted and solipsistic. I am committed to the written word and the printed page because they are lo-fi outlets that allow anyone to create and anyone to consume. Ultimately, I think that human experiences and emotions need to be told by actual cognizant people who understand the power of empathy  and synergy. Hopefully I’m not proven incorrect on this one.


What cons do you attend? Any comments about attending them?


Thus far I have participated in MICE in Boston, Short Run in Seattle, TCAF in Toronto, Genghis Con in Cleveland. Stripdagen Haarlem in the Netherlands, and Thought Bubble in England. They all have their merits, some more so than others, and I am always happy to be a part of them. What is strange to me is that my acceptance rate was higher pre-Covid when I only had two issues of Chad in Amsterdam available. Since Covid struck I have made six comics with two more slated to drop in the spring of 2023. I don't really know what the gatekeepers of the indie comic world are looking for, but it isn’t at all my job to appease their tastes and proclivities. I’m publishing three different titles, all of which are critically-acclaimed, so I’ll just keep doing what I have been doing. I’m not in this to be a part of any comic scenes. I’m in this to reach the stores and the readers and to leave a legacy of quality comics. With that said, folks can definitely see me this April at TCAF in Toronto.


What comic books do you read regularly or recommend? Do you have a local store?


Firstly, out here in Amsterdam I have two local stores: Henk and Lambiek. They are complimentary stores that are right around the corner from each other, and I love the staff at each store. Honestly, this is probably the best comic book store scenario that I have had in life. If you all visit Amsterdam, be certain to visit both stores!


My pull list runs a wide gamut. At the moment I have been collecting: That Texas Blood, The Department of Truth, Dwellings, The Fang, Ultramega, Newburn, The Human Target, Reckless, Stramash, Everything Sucks, Damn Them All, and What’s the Furthest Place From Here? Today I just picked up Immortal Sergeant and I’m quite looking forward to reading that. This list doesn’t include the various graphic novels and collected editions I purchase, which recently included Slash Them All and A Frog in the Fall (and later on).


How can people buy YOUR comics?


For folks in DC my comics can be found at Fantom Comics on P St. NW or Big Planet Comics on U St. NW and Vienna. If you’re elsewhere in the States, it may be easier to go to Birdcage Bottom Books or Domino Books. I am also in a lot of brick-and-mortar locales, mostly on the East Coast and in the MIdwest. West Coast, I’m coming for y’all again soon. Hold tight. Lastly, you can always get my comics at my website, chadinamsterdam.nl


What's your favorite thing about visiting DC?


DC was my home for a decade. When I left the city, I really didn’t want to go, but had to -- for reasons that will eventually be revealed in The Re-Up. I last visited in November of 2022 and it was the first time since relocating that I had a car and was able to drive around like I used to. DC is truly one of the most distinctive cities in the United States. It is one of few places in America that has a local style of music. It is always pure bliss to hear Go-Go on the city streets. I had to duck into the Metro PCS on 7th St. NW and Florida to purchase whatever Go-Go mixtape that was serving as the diegetic score for the corner. I was mostly a NW guy, so U street and Adams Morgan were my favorite hangouts, and it is always a pleasure to just wander thereabouts with no plan in mind. I was fortunate enough to be walking past another one of my favorite places, Black Cat, where Lee Fields just so happened to be performing that evening. I used to attend Howard and Georgetown, so I always walk those campuses and relive the good times that I experienced at both of these stellar universities. Honestly, visiting gets me really nostalgic because I had a good life in DC. I often wonder what my life would have been like had I stayed instead of moving in 2008. Alas, that’s something that we will never know but it’s always bittersweet to consider the alternate universes that could have been.


Least favorite?


The rampant gentrification. Sadly, there are so many new denizens of DC who know nothing about the history and culture of the city. I think it’s a pity. Although gentrification is affecting nearly every urban center throughout the Occident, it hit DC early and it hit hard. U Street NW is nearly unrecognizable. I can tell that the new denizens don’t contribute to culture; at best they spend money. I suppose that change is a certainty, but it is painful to see that so much culture has been lost with the displacement of DC’s native population. It hurts to know that this aforementioned Metro PCS has to fight to play the same Go-Go music that they were playing when I first arrived in 1998, way back when I was on a mission to get a new pager. Hopefully the gentrifier realizes their place in the city and pre-existing local culture can ultimately reign supreme; but honestly, I’m not so confident that this will be the outcome.


What monument or museum do you like to go to?


Funny that you ask that. As I was just in DC this past November, I took a walk on the National Mall and realized how few of these incredible places I had actually been in. For a while, I was a mainstay at the Smithsonian because, as most of them are free of charge to enter, it is the perfect place for impecunious or parsimonious people to go on dates (something that I did quite often in 1998). On the next visit I especially want to hit the National Museum of African American History and Culture as I have not visited yet. 


When I lived in the city I used to go down to the Capitol Reflecting Pool at night to smoke weed and ponder over life. I’ve quit smoking weed, but I still find this a great place to go at night and ponder over how far I’ve come in life. A flask replaced the blunt, but the sense of tranquility and self-reflection is the same.

 

Are you planning on staying in the Netherlands and becoming a citizen of the EU, or are your ties to the US still strong?


I hope to be able to live life in Amsterdam and in an additional city in the US. My ties to the US are still strong. It is indeed still the place that I consider to be "home." I think the country is currently in a state of utter hullabaloo, but it's still where I feel the most comfortable. It's nice to not have to constantly explain my existence the way that I have to when I'm in the Netherlands. Anyhow, I'm looking at Pittsburgh. It's a great town and it's quite close to my hometown of Cleveland where most of my family still resides. And yeah, I'm in it for the citizenship. I want access to greater mobility within our stratified world. 


Do you have a website or blog?


I definitely have a website but it is mostly just for ordering books. You can get all of my comics from chadinamsterdam.nl. I don’t really have a blog, but as far as social media goes I am on Twitter and Instagram. I also run a Twitter site for Bistro Books that is strictly comic-related, which may be the best option if you aren’t so concerned with the music that I listen to or my misanthropic rants.

 

How has the COVID-19 outbreak affected you, personally and professionally?


I don’t think that it affected me adversely. As previously mentioned, I have released six comics since Covid transmogrified reality. I’m a bit paradoxical with other humans. I hate people, but I love people. It was honestly sort of nice to just be chilling with my lady during Cpvid. We ate well, watched a lot of films and TV, washed a lot of groceries, and cooked quite a bit. If anything, it has made it more arduous to live in an overpopulated city like Amsterdam. But hey, such is life…


Here's more art from Chad's comic books...
















Thursday, April 16, 2020

Meet a Localish Cartoonist: A Chat with Rose Turner

 by Mike Rhode

 A friend of mine saw Rose Turner this February at a local event when that was still possible. 

Scott Stewart told me, "I attended an event in Round Hill, VA titled, 'Where Art Meets Hiking' focused on art based on the Appalachian Trail.  The speaker at the event was Rose “Comics” Turner who talked about “the importance of overlap between my worlds of art and hiking and how I managed to make art while I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.”

"It was a good talk and a very interesting comics project. Speaking with her, I learned, among other things, that she lives in Front Royal, VA, will be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in the west coast as her next adventure, and is leaving for an Ireland jaunt."

"She recently started a podcast Journeys Through Art where she and co-host Melanie "Doodles" Cichocki 'interview artist adventurers from around the world to dive a little deeper into humanity.'  For example, Episode 2 features Kerstin A. La Cross, ;an Adventure Cartoonist and illustrator based in the Pacific Northwest. While not gallivanting in the mountains, they make comics about hiking, wilderness safety, and mental health. Their current comic project is ‘BASHers’, a memoir webcomic chronicling their first long-distance backpacking trip, where they hiked 100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and learned the difference between strength and stubbornness, and what it’s like to have your first asthma attack in the middle of nowhere.'”

I'd like to thank Scott for introducing me to Rose's work, and now she answers our usual questions and the new, inevitable, COVID-19 question.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I primarily focus on autobiographical comics. Within that, a lot of my recent and upcoming work is specifically about the adventures I go on, especially long-distance hikes.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?


Right now I primarily use watercolor, ink, and pencil, though I am slowly beginning to incorporate more digital work. It feels like there's a bigger buy-in for embarking into digital work, so I've been slow to get into that.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?


I'm a 90's kid from the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

Why are you in now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I'm still based in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley for now, though I'm hoping to move out west at some point, hopefully within a year or so after this pandemic really starts to subside.

How has the COVID-19 outbreak affected you, personally and professionally? 

I was out on an adventure in Ireland when things really started shifting due to the virus. I had just changed my flight to come home a few days early when the travel ban was put in place. But even before that, I was starting to try not to use public transportation or hang out in bigger cities. I'm, uh, broke right now to begin with, and had actually just lost my day job (the business closed) the day that I left for Ireland. I had been planning to get one or two jobs when I returned, like at one of the wineries nearby, and just work a bunch and save up. But now it looks like I'll be working a bunch and, well, not really saving, since most of my work (art) goes unpaid, unfortunately. At the same time, I have been able to focus on my art a little bit more during this time, so I'm kind of just doing what I can to build up my skills and profession. I'm also really trying to use my art as a resource and a gift for folks, including offering a recent art giveaway to help cheer people up.



What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I've been an artist my whole life. I took a few classes here and there during my schooling, mostly just related to drawing in general. My degree is unrelated (International Studies), but I did do a study abroad that focused on incorporating art with travel. That was incredibly nourishing! My dad and my sister are both artists as well, and gave me some of my first lessons in the world of art when I was a kid.

Who are your influences?

Oof. So many. Bill Watterson, M.C. Escher, Alison Bechdel, Lucy Bellwood. Seth Pitt is probably my favorite these days; though our styles are completely different, I feel like our hearts are pretty similar, and in that way I resonate with his work very deeply. I'm fortunate to have a few extremely kind and talented mentors in my life who have inspired me immeasurably, including Ben Hatke, Zack Giallongo, and Kerstin A. La Cross.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change? 


Eh, not much really. I've been pretty happy with my path overall. I only wish I had started practicing my craft more consistently sooner. There are a couple projects I sort of wish I had printed as soon as they were finished and then actually taken them to cons and such, but I've always been so busy that I don't think it was ever really an option. I am planning to do more of that in the near future, however. 

What work are you best-known for?

"Miles of Comics", a collection of comics depicting my thru-hike on the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. Still working on these!

What work are you most proud of?


I'm really proud of those trail comics. It's the longest art project I've ever done, and I'm so glad that I've stuck with it. I think the work I'm most proud of though is anytime that my art has made people feel more understood and less alone in their experiences as a human - most of that comes from my March Madness Comics series, which are a bunch of 1-4 page, usually very vulnerable but sometimes funny autobiographical comics I've made. 

What would you like to do  or work on in the future?


I'd love to do more adventure art. For upcoming adventures, I'll be expanding my focus so that my art quite so exclusive to comics, but includes more portraits and landscapes and journal-style art. I'd also love to do more work with cartography, combining my love of maps and making art. 

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Awesome Con, or others? Any comments about attending them?

While I've visited a few small cons, I only just have my first proper vendor gig coming up. I'll be set up at the Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival, which has been postponed to September. Lots of great people involved with that event!

Turner in Feb 2020 by Scott Stewart
What's your favorite thing about the Shenandoah Valley?

The mountains and the hugs. When I was away at college, I started referring to Front Royal as "Hugsville", and nearby spots like Strasburg and Winchester are part of "The Greater Hugsville Area". It has certainly been strange being in Hugsville without all the hugs (due to social distancing). My housemates are getting extra hugs to make up for it. 

Least favorite?

It feels pretty segregated even today. I want to look into what I can do to address that and change it. 

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?


Does the library count? I worked there for a few years. I know I'm a little biased, but I've seen dozens of libraries around the country, and Samuel's Public Library is truly exceptional in its design (beautiful murals inside!), collection, technology, and above all its stellar staff and programming. It's one of the main places I like to make sure visitors go to.

Turner in Feb 2020 by Scott Stewart
How about a favorite local restaurant?

Happy Creek Coffee & Tea for lighter fair, but if you want a full meal I'd say Truss'd. 

Do you have a website or blog?
 


www.rotucomics.com 
https://www.instagram.com/rotucomics/ 

My Patreon is active though! I'm in the midst of getting a little more of an online store available, but for now, Patreon is best.